Cruise ship stranded in Belfast for three months: passengers and cat 'Captain' aboard

Passengers on a global cruise have reportedly been stuck in Belfast for three months due to repeated delays that disrupted their journey.

Villa Vie Residences’ Odyssey landed at Queen’s Island in the Northern Ireland capital to be furnished. It was set to leave for the first leg of a three-year cruise on May 30.

But this has not happened because of issues with the gearbox and rudders. The ship was scheduled to visit almost 425 ports across 147 nations and cover all seven continents.

The BBC reported that passengers must disembark the ship in the evening but can spend time on it during the day.

It said passengers could buy their cabin outright — instead of paying a daily fee like a traditional hotel.

According to the Villa Vie Residences website, buying a cabin can cost anywhere from $99,999 (£76,000) to $899,000 (£684,000).

Among the passengers who have fully immersed themselves in the city are married couple Angela and Stephen Theriac.“We keep teasing we will apply for residency here in Belfast,” Ms Theriac said.

Florida resident Holly Hennessey has also been unable to leave the city.

But at least she has her cat, aptly named Captain, for company.

"We can have all of our meals and they even have movies and trivia entertainment, almost like cruising except we're at the dock,” she told the BBC.

Villa Vie Residences CEO Mike Petterson expected the ship to leave by the end of next week.

He told the BBC: "We're not focused on the next days or weeks, we are focused on the rest of our lives and what this company will do for the residents and the industry."

The Evening Standard has approached Villa Vie Residences for comment.

The US company offers, according to its website, “an intimate, new cruise lifestyle, and the ability to reach parts of the world that larger ships cannot access — often docking in the heart of destinations”.

Tributes paid to outgoing SDLP leader Colum Eastwood